Shall I be a big boss and just tell her no?

Dear Aunty B,

I have just gone out on a limb and hired a very expensive new sales and marketing director who has lots of letters after her name.

She has made lots of changes which I can see will help the business. But she wants to change the way we report to the board. I have recommended against it as our board has a very particular way they want reports done. But she says they are not getting the information they need and they will find her reports better.

I don’t want to change things one month into the new financial year. Plus I also know they will say no. But I also don’t want to discourage her by playing big boss and telling her no. She has been very adamant on this!

Not sure,
Tom

Dear Not sure Tom,

Are you nuts? It sounds like you are a bit intimidated by your new director! You shouldn’t be. One of her priorities should be to find out how you and the board want your information and then to deliver it exactly how you want it. A board does not want pages of stuff. I assume your board is made up of very experienced business people who know what information the need and when they need it.

Tell your new director that the reports she prepares will play a large role in what the directors get. But it is the board that has the final say on this, not her.

Good luck!
Your Aunty B

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